Apparatus for stacking and reclaiming material

ABSTRACT

A mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus includes a moveable bridge, a moveable hopper and a moveable tripper. The moveable bridge has a first end, a second end, and at least one intermediate portion between the first and second ends. The moveable hopper is connected to the moveable bridge. The moveable hopper is moveable relative to the moveable bridge along at least a portion of the moveable bridge. The moveable tripper is also connected to the moveable bridge. The moveable tripper being moveable relative to the moveable bridge along at least a portion of the moveable bridge. A system is also disclosed that includes at least one mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus adjacent to at least one stacking overland conveyor configured to convey material for stacking material and at least one reclaiming overland conveyor configured to convey material for reclaiming material. A method of providing such systems is also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to material handling and, moreparticularly, relates to apparatuses and methods for stacking andreclaiming material, such as ores, minerals or agglomerated material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conveyors may be used in stackers to stack material or reclaim materialfrom a stack. Typically, systems designed for stacking and reclaimingmaterial utilize a number of conveyors. One set of conveyors istypically used to convey material to a stacker for stacking in aparticular area. Another set of conveyors is used to reclaim thematerial stacked in that area. Examples of systems used to stackmaterial or reclaim material are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,782,993,6,085,890, and 3,604,757, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2007/0102263, and World Intellectual Property Organization PublicationNo. WO2008/138418.

In addition to conveyors, other devices are typically used in stackingand reclamation systems. For instance, a stacker is typically used tostack material transported by the stacking conveyor system. A reclaimer,such as a bucket wheel reclaimer, may be used for reclaiming the stackedmaterial and placing that material on a reclaimer conveyor. Examples ofstackers and reclaimers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,297,141,3,653,486, 4,406,361, 4,629,060, 6,360,876, and 6,896,123.

One previous system used for stacking material included using radialstackers and grasshopper conveyors. The radial stacker in such systemsis configured to work in a circular path and often has an extendableconveyor head to increase the stacker's stacking capacity. Once theradial stacker completed its rotation at a first location, the head ofthe stacker may be extended and the stacker could reverse its path tofurther stack material. After the stacker had finished stacking thematerial at the first location, the stacker would need to be moved to anew location to stack material at the new location or new portion of apredefined area for stacking material. Such movement often takes asignificant amount of time. For instance, the stacker may need to bemoved by a lifting device or by moving the stacker. Also, additionalextension conveyors would need to be added to a system to extend thematerial flow to the stacker. Such movement requires the system to beshut down during each movement of the stacker. Further, there are wastedcorners in the stacking of the material that the circular path of theradial stacker cannot utilize such that several thousand tons ofcapacity in a stacking area may be not be utilized. Moreover, a separateset of conveyors is typically needed to reclaim material off the stackedpile, which can make such systems very expensive.

Another previous system can use a racetrack system similar to leach padstacking. The racetrack system typically uses a mobile stacking bridgeconveyor, a mobile reclaim conveyor, a bucket wheel reclaimer, a centralcorridor feed overland conveyor and a corridor reclaim overlandconveyor. The feed and reclaim overland conveyors may run parallel, butin different directions. Such a system often requires the blending ofreclaimed material into a circuit of conveyors. In the event there aredifferent materials to be stacked, the mobile reclaim or mobile stackingconveyor must be moved in a complex path that requires movement betweendifferent piles of material. Such movement is often time consuming andrequires multiple complex pivots. Moreover, such movement requires asubstantial mount of space for performing movement between differentmaterial piles so the amount of space that may be utilized for stackingcan be significantly minimized or underutilized. Such systems can alsorequire very complex site layouts that include tunnels for the mobileconveyors to travel over the corridor conveyors when stacking orreclaiming. Further, such a stacking and reclaiming system cannot stackor reclaim during the movement of the conveyors.

A system for stacking and reclaiming is needed that provides for theutilization of more space for stacking. Such a system should alsoprovide for as simple a site layout as possible for the stacking andreclaiming of material. Preferably, such a system is configured todecrease the amount of time the stacking or reclaiming needs to bestopped for adjustment or movement of stacking or reclaiming devicessuch as stackers, bucket wheels or conveyors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus includes a moveable bridge, amoveable hopper and a moveable tripper. The moveable bridge has a firstend, a second end, and at least one intermediate portion between thefirst and second ends. The moveable hopper is connected to the moveablebridge and is moveable relative to the movable bridge along at least aportion of the moveable bridge. The moveable tripper is also connectedto the moveable bridge and is moveable relative to the moveable bridgealong at least a portion of the moveable bridge.

The moveable hopper may be attached to the moveable tripper. Preferably,the moveable hopper is releasably connected to the moveable tripper suchthat the moveable tripper and moveable hopper are independently moveablewhen separated and synchronously move when interconnected.

In some embodiments of the mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus, themoveable bridge includes a first conveyor that is moveable in at leastone direction. The first end, second end and/or one or more intermediateportions may support the first conveyor. The moveable tripper mayinclude an inclined conveyor and a cross conveyor. The inclined conveyormay be positioned adjacent to the cross conveyor and is configured tofeed material to the cross conveyor The cross conveyor is transverse tothe first conveyor and the inclined conveyor. Preferably, the crossconveyor is perpendicular to the first conveyor and the inclinedconveyor.

Embodiments of the mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus can alsoinclude a moveable hopper that includes a plurality of interconnectedsidewalls that define an opening sized and configured to receivematerial form a reclaimer. The opening of the moveable hopper ispreferably sized and configured to permit material to pass through theopening and onto the first conveyor. The movable hopper may also beconfigured to releasably connect to a portion of a reclaimer to helpensure that the material from the reclaimer is fed through the openingof the hopper.

The first end and/or the second end of the mobile bridge may have aluffing end that is moveable from a retracted position to an extendedposition. Alternatively, at least one of the first end and the secondend of the moveable bridge may be extendable from a retracted positionto an extended position. Movement of an end from an extended position toa retracted position can form a gap or opening sized to permit vehiclesto pass adjacent to the mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus.Movement of an end of the moveable bridge from a retracted position toan extended position may permit the mobile stacking and reclaimingapparatus to receive material from different conveyors or other devices.

Some embodiments of the mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus canalso include a plurality of rails that extend along at least a portionof the moveable bridge. The rails are sized and configured to define apath of travel for the moveable hopper and the moveable tripper.

A system for reclaiming and stacking material is also provided. Thesystem includes at least one stacking overland conveyor, at least onereclaiming overland conveyor, and at least one mobile stacking andreclaiming apparatus. The one or more stacking overland conveyors areconfigured to convey material for stacking material. The one or morereclaiming overland conveyors are configured to convey material forreclaiming material. The one or more mobile stacking and reclaimingapparatuses are positioned adjacent to the one or more stacking overlandconveyors and one or more reclaiming overland conveyors to reclaimmaterial from at least one storage pile and stack material received fromone or more of the stacking conveyors in at least one storage pile.

Embodiments of the system may also include one or more reclaimers thatare positionable adjacent to the moveable hopper to reclaim material.Preferably, at least one of the reclaimers is a bucket wheel reclaimer.

Some embodiments of the system include one or more of the mobilestacking and reclaiming apparatuses being positioned between one or morestacking overland conveyors and one or more reclaiming overlandconveyors. The mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatuses of such asystem preferably include a first conveyor supported by the first end,second end or one or more intermediate portions of the moveable bridgethat is moveable in a first direction. Movement of the first conveyor inthe first direction may stack and reclaim material.

Other embodiments of system include one or more of the mobile stackingand reclaiming apparatuses positioned such that the first end of themoveable bridge is positioned adjacent to one or more stacking overlandconveyors and one or more reclaiming overland conveyors. The mobilestacking and reclaiming apparatuses of such a system preferably includea first conveyor supported by the first end, second end or one or moreintermediate portions of the moveable bridge that is moveable in a firstdirection and a second direction that is opposite the first direction.Movement of the first conveyor in the first direction may stack materialand movement of the first conveyor in the second direction may reclaimmaterial from a storage pile.

Embodiments of the system may also include mobile overland hoppers thatmay be positioned adjacent to a reclaiming overland conveyor to receivematerial from a mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus and feed thatmaterial onto a reclaiming overland conveyor. Embodiments of the systemmay also include one or more mobile overland trippers positionedadjacent to a stacking overland conveyor. The mobile overland trippermay feed material from the stacking overland conveyor onto a mobilestacking and reclaiming apparatus for stacking the material.

A method of providing a system for reclaiming and stacking material isalso provided. Embodiments of the method can include providing at leastone overland reclaiming conveyor, providing at least one overlandstacking conveyor and providing at least one mobile stacking andreclaiming apparatus. Embodiments of the method may also includeproviding embodiments of the above mentioned systems, which are alsodiscussed in more detail below.

It should be understood that a general contractor may be considered toprovide all the features of the method even if certain portions ofcreating or providing that feature is subcontracted out to a thirdparty. For instance, a general contractor provides a client an overlandconveyor even if a subcontractor makes the overland conveyor or installsthe overland conveyor pursuant to an agreement with the generalcontractor. It should also be understood that a general contractorshould be considered to provide a conveyor or mobile stacking andreclaiming apparatus by offering to make or install such a device for aclient.

Other details, objects, and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the following description of certain present preferredembodiments thereof and certain present preferred methods of practicingthe same proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Present preferred embodiments of apparatuses and systems for stackingand reclaiming material are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a layout of a first present preferred embodiment of a stackingand reclaiming system.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a present preferred mobile stackingand reclaiming conveyor apparatus that may be used in the first presentpreferred stacking and reclaiming system.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the head portion of thepresent preferred mobile stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatusshown in FIG. 2, which is illustrated in a retracted position to permita vehicle to pass between the stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatusand a reclaim conveyor. The vehicle is shown in dotted line in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary side elevational view of a head portion of apresent preferred mobile stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus thatincludes a luffing end, which is illustrated in a retracted position topermit a bucket wheel reclaimer to pass between the stacking andreclaiming conveyor apparatus and a reclaim conveyor. The bucket wheelreclaimer is shown in dotted line in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is layout of a second present preferred embodiment of a stackingand reclaiming system.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a present preferred embodiment of amobile stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus that may be used inthe second present preferred stacking and reclaiming system.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a present preferred mobile stackingand reclaiming conveyor apparatus having the mobile hopper and tripperpositioned near the mobile overland tripper of the second presentpreferred system.

FIG. 7 is an end view of a present preferred embodiment of the mobilestacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus shown in Figures positionedfor stacking.

FIG. 8 is an end view similar to FIG. 7 of the present preferredembodiment of the mobile stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatuspositioned for reclaiming adjacent to a bucket wheel reclaimer. Thebucket wheel reclaimer is shown in dotted line.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a present preferred embodiment of mobilehopper that may be moveably interconnected to an embodiment of themobile stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a present preferred embodiment of amobile tripper that may be moveably interconnected to an embodiment ofthe mobile stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENT PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a first present preferred stacking andreclaiming system 1 is illustrated. The system 1 includes a stackingoverland conveyor 3 and a reclaiming overland conveyor 5. The stackingoverland conveyor 3 may receive feed or material from a source, such asshipments of material or a bin that is loaded with material. Theoverland reclaiming conveyor 5 is configured to bring stacked materialto a particular destination, such as a depot used by a power plant forburning the material or otherwise using the material to create energy.Preferably, the stacking and reclaiming conveyors 3 and 5 are configuredto convey bulk material such as mineral, ore, or agglomerated material.

At least one mobile overland tripper 17 is positioned between a portionof the stacking overland conveyor 3 and a mobile stacking and reclaimingconveyor apparatus 7. Each stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus 7is preferably positioned between two stacking areas.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, a first mobile stacking and reclaimingconveyor apparatus is positioned between storage piles 9 and 10 and asecond mobile stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus 7 is positionedbetween storage piles 11 and 12. Preferably, storage piles 11 and 12 aredesignated to store high grade material and storage piles 9 and 10 aredesignated for storing low grade material. However, each storage pilemay store low or high grade material or material of an intermediategrade.

Each mobile stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus 7 has a stackinghead portion 23 and a reclaiming head portion 25. Preferably, thestacking head portion 23 includes a luffing conveyor and the reclaiminghead portion 25 has an extendable conveyor portion. The extendableconveyor portion of the reclaiming head portion 25 may move toward andaway from the reclaim overland conveyor 5. Such movement can provide agap to permit a moveable bucket wheel reclaimer 13 or other reclaimer topass between the mobile stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus 7 andthe overland reclaim conveyor 5 without requiring significant downtimeor requiring movement of other portions of the mobile stacking andreclaiming conveyor apparatus 7. As may be seen in FIG. 3, thereclaiming head portion 25 in a retracted position permits a vehicle 4to pass between the overland reclaiming conveyor 5 and the reclaiminghead portion 25.

In alternative embodiments, the head portion 25 may include a luffingend 26 that is moveable from a retracted position to an extendedposition, as may be appreciated from FIG. 3A. In the retracted position,the luffing end is positioned to provide a gap between the luffing end26 and the overland reclaiming conveyor 5 to permit a bucket wheelreclaimer 13 to pass through the gap.

Referring to FIG. 2, each mobile stacking and reclaiming conveyorapparatus 7 includes at least one and, preferably, multiple intermediateconveyor frame portions 27 that are positioned between the stacking headportion 23 and the reclaiming head portion 25 of the apparatus 7. Theintermediate frame portions 27 are interconnected together with the headportions 23 and 25. A belt is supported by these portions and isconfigured to move to transport material positioned on the belt. Thebelt may move along idlers or troughed idlers supported on the apparatus7.

Preferably, the intermediate portions 27, reclaiming head portion 25 andstacking head portion 23 all include at least one set of tracks formoving each mobile stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus 7. Atleast one set of these tracks 28 may be configured to pivot or rotatesuch that the mobile stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus 7 canturn or pivot. Preferably, the tracks 28 are set in a particularposition to permit side to side movement between adjacent storage piles,such as storage piles 9 and 10.

The interconnected portions of the mobile stacking and reclaimingconveyor apparatus 7 include rails 29 that support movement of at leastone hopper 18 and tripper 19. Each hopper and tripper has wheelsconfigured for movement along the rails 29. Preferably, the trippers andhoppers are configured to be releasably interconnected such that aninterconnected hopper and tripper can move as a unitary unit, but alsobe separated and moved independently of one another.

The trippers 19 are configured to provide a cross conveyor betweenstorage piles to permit stacking to storage piles of opposite sides ofthe mobile stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus 7. For example,the mobile stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus 7 positionedbetween storage piles 9 and 10 includes a mobile tripper 19 that maystack material from storage piles 9 or 10. The tripper 19 includes across conveyor that may permit stacking of material adjacent to eitherside of the apparatus 7 such that the apparatus may stack material intotwo different storage piles. The cross conveyor may be above andtransverse to the conveyor moving adjacent the top of the intermediaterails. Preferably, the cross conveyor is perpendicular to this conveyor.In alternative embodiments, the cross conveyor may also be configured toonly discharge material from only one side of the apparatus 7 in theevent the apparatus 7 is configured to stack or reclaim material fromonly one storage pile.

For reclaiming material from a pile, a mobile hopper 18 may be movedadjacent to a bucket wheel reclaimer or other reclaimer such thatmaterial is fed into the hopper 18 and subsequently positioned on theconveyor for transport to the overland reclaim conveyor. For instance,material may be transported from the bucket wheel reclaimer to themobile hopper 18 to locate the material onto the conveyor belt of theapparatus 7 for reclaiming the material. Alternatively, the mobilehopper 18 may be moved adjacent to the reclaimer to receive materialfrom the reclaimer and then releasably interconnected to a portion ofthe reclaimer to lock the position of the hopper 18 to receive materialand position that material onto the conveyor belt or other elongatedmember moving to convey the material to the reclaim overland conveyor.

Once the material has been located onto the conveyor belt or otherelongated member, the material may be moved toward the reclaiming headportion 25 to reclaim the material. The reclaiming head portion 25 isextended to provide material to the overland reclaim conveyor 5. Suchmaterial may be transferred through a hopper to position the materialonto the overland reclaim conveyor.

For stacking material, the material to be stacked may be transportedalong the stacking conveyor 3 to a mobile overland tripper 17. Themobile overland tripper 17 may receive certain material for stacking andtransfer that material to the head portion 23 of the mobile stacking andreclaiming conveyor apparatus 7. The head portion 23 may include aluffing conveyor configured to receive the material from the mobileoverland tripper 17. The material may then be conveyed to the tripper 19to stack in a particular storage pile. The tripper 19 transfers thematerial to the cross conveyor for stacking into a storage pile. Thecross conveyor may move in opposite directions to permit stacking indifferent storage piles located on opposite sides of the apparatus 7,such as storage piles 9 and 10. Adjustment of a location for stackingmay easily and quickly be made by moving the tripper 19 along the railsof the intermediate frame portions 27 to a new location.

Preferably, the conveyor belt of the mobile stacking and reclaimingconveyor apparatus 7 that moves to reclaim material and feed the mobiletripper 19 for stacking material is configured to only move in onedirection, which runs from the stacking overland reclaimer 3 to thereclaiming overland conveyor 5. Preferably, the mobile tripper 19 ispositioned to precede the mobile hopper 18 such that the hopper 18 ispositioned between the mobile tripper 19 and the end 25 of the mobilestacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus 7. It should be understoodthat such an arrangement of overland conveyors, the mobile stacking andreclaiming conveyor apparatus 7, mobile tripper 19 and mobile hopper 18can permit the mobile tripper 19 to stack material via the crossconveyor while a reclaimer reclaims material from a storage pile andfeeds that material into the hopper 18 for transport to the reclaimingoverland conveyor at the same time.

It should be understood that the mobile stacking and reclaiming conveyorapparatus 7, mobile hopper 18 and mobile tripper 19 permit rectangularstacking in a storage pile to help maximize the utilization of spacewithin a designated storage pile area. For instance, unlike radialstackers, the mobile stacking and reclaiming conveyor apparatus 7permits rectangle stacking via the cross conveyor of the mobile tripper19 and, therefore, can utilize corners a radial stacker cannot utilize.Also, separate conveying paths for reclaiming and stacking are notneeded, which reduces the cost of equipment and the amount of spaceneeded for embodiments of our system. Indeed, the material flow issimplified to only one direction and along one route, which simplifiessite layout requirements and helps minimize the amount of equipmentnecessary to conduct stacking and reclaiming operations.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, a second present preferred system 41 can also beused for stacking and reclaiming material. The system 41 includes astacking feed overland conveyor 43 and reclaim overland conveyor 51positioned adjacent to each other and moving parallel to each other. Thestacking overland conveyor 43 may move material in a direction that isopposite the direction the reclaiming overland conveyor 51 movesmaterial. At least one mobile overland tripper 49 may be positioned tofeed material to mobile stacking and reclaim bridges 55. The mobileoverland tripper 49 is preferably positioned between the reclaimconveyor 51 and the stacking feed conveyor 43. Preferably, a mobilestacking and reclaim bridge 55 is positioned between storage pile 61 andstorage pile 62 and a second bridge 55 is positioned between storagepile 63 and storage pile 64. Each bridge 55 includes a conveyor beltconfigured to move in a first direction and a second direction that isopposite the first direction. Movement in a first direction may providefor the handling of material for stacking. Movement in the opposite,second direction may provide for reclaiming of material from a storagepile.

Each mobile stacking and reclaim bridge 55 includes a mobile tripperinterconnected with a mobile hopper 57 (“MTH”). The tripper portionincludes a cross conveyor for conveying material to different sides ofthe bridge 55. For instance, the cross conveyor may be configured tomove in opposite directions for stacking material onto storage piles 61and 62. The MTH 57 may be configured to permit the mobile hopper andmobile tripper portions of the MTH 57 to be releasably interconnected.Alternatively, the MTH 57 may not include separable hopper and tripperportions.

As may be seen in FIG. 5, the MTH may include a hopper 71, a tripper 72and a cross conveyor 73. The MTH 57 may move between a head portion 59and head portion 58 along rails supported by the head portions 58 and 59and intermediate frame portions 76. The head portion 58 may include anextendable conveyor portion, extendable luffing conveyor portion 60, orextendable frame for moving a portion of the head portion 58 to aposition for receiving stacking material from the mobile overlandtripper 49 or to position material through a hopper for feeding onto thereclaiming overland conveyor 45. For instance, the head portion 58 maybe extended to receive material from an overland tripper 49 for stackingor be retracted to feed material to a mobile overland hopper 47positioned on a reclaim conveyor 45. The moveable or extendable headportion or luffing conveyor portion 60 can also permit movement of thatportion 60 to provide space for vehicles to pass between the headportion 58 and mobile overland tripper 49 or other conveyor.

The conveyor belt of the mobile stacking and reclaim bridge 55 can movein opposite directions. In a first direction, the conveyor travels alonghead portions 58 and 59 and intermediate portions 76 to transportmaterial for stacking. The conveyor belt of the mobile stacking andreclaim bridge 55 also moves in a second direction that is opposite thefirst direction to receive material from a storage pile and transportthat material to the overland reclaim conveyor 45. Preferably, a mobileoverland hopper 47 is positioned between the reclaim conveyor 45 and thehead portion 58 of the bridge to help feed material onto the reclaimconveyor 45.

A bucket wheel reclaimer 56 may be provided in each storage pile or injust one storage pile for reclaiming operations. Of course, otherreclaimers may also be used in the system 41. The bucket wheel reclaimer56 may move to different locations for reclaiming material. The MTH 57may move along the rails of the bridge to different locations to receivematerial from the reclaimer. The MTH 57 may also be configured forreleasable connection to the bucket wheel reclaimer 56 after thereclaimer and MTH 57 are positioned for reclaiming material at aparticular location to help ensure the MTH 57 is positioned properly forreclaiming material.

It should be understood that the bucket wheel reclaimer 56 is configuredto transport material to the hopper portion 71 of the MTH 57. The hopperportion 71 helps locate material onto the conveyor of the mobilestacking and reclaim bridge 55 for transport to the reclaim overlandconveyor 45.

It should be appreciated that the MTH 57 and mobile stacking and reclaimbridge 55 permit rectangular stacking in a storage pile to help maximizethe utilization of space within a designated storage pile area. Forinstance, unlike radial stackers, the mobile stacking and reclaim bridge55 permits rectangle stacking and, therefore, can utilize corners aradial stacker cannot utilize. Also, separate conveying paths forreclaiming and stacking are not needed, which reduces the cost ofequipment and the amount of space needed for embodiments of our system.

Referring to FIGS. 7-8, a mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus 91can include a tripper 92 that has a cross conveyor 94 and a hopper 93.The tripper 92 and hopper 93 are moveably supported on a base 96. Thebase may include tracks 95 to permit the apparatus 91 to move. The base96 may also support rails upon which the hopper 93 and tripper 92 maymove. The tripper 92 and hopper 93 may move independently along therails or may be interconnected and move synchronously along the rails.

The apparatus 91 can be configured to convey material into a stack 97.The cross conveyor 94 may move in opposite directions for conveying andstacking material on opposite sides of the apparatus 91. It is alsocontemplated that the cross conveyor 94 may include an adjustable orrotatable luffing conveyor portion on one or both ends of the crossconveyor for stacking material. As may be seen in FIG. 8, a bucket wheelreclaimer 101 may be positioned adjacent to the hopper 93 of theapparatus 91 for transporting material in a stack 97 to another locationto reclaim that material. A portion of the reclaimer 101 may bereleasably interconnected to the hopper 93 for receiving material fromthe reclaimer 101.

As may be seen in FIGS. 9-10, the tripper 92 and hopper 93 each includewheels 115 configured to connect to the base such that the hopper 93 andtripper 92 may move along the upper surface of the base 96 adjacent tothe conveyor belt of the apparatus 91. As may best be seen in FIG. 9,the hopper includes sidewalls 117 that define an opening 118 that issized and configured to receive material from a reclaimer. The sidewalls117 are configured to position the material onto the conveyor of theapparatus 91 so the conveyor belt may transport the material to areclaiming destination.

As may best be seen in FIG. 10, the tripper 92 includes an inclinedconveyor portion 121 that is positioned adjacent to and perpendicular tothe cross conveyor 94 and is configured to feed material to the crossconveyor 94.

The tripper 92 and hopper 93 may be releasably interconnected bydifferent mechanisms, such as, for example, trailer links configured toreleasably interconnect. As another example, the tripper may include ahitch and the hopper may have a receiver hitch for interconnecting withthe hitch of the tripper. Alternatively, the tripper 92 may include acoupling configured to releasably connect to a coupling on the hopper93.

To prevent the tripper 92 from crashing into hopper 93, we prefer toinclude a crash prevention device that prevents or helps reduce thelikelihood that a user may move the hopper 93 into the tripper 92without trying to interconnect the hopper 93 and tripper 92. Such asafety device may include an automatic braking system that is activatedwhen the hopper or tripper is sensed as being within a certain distanceof the other device and also over a predefined speed. Alternatively, thesafety device may also include bumpers that are configured to absorb asufficient amount of force that may be transferred during accidentalcontact between the tripper and hopper. Of course, the safety device mayinclude both bumpers and the automatic braking system. Other alternativesafety mechanisms may also be utilized to avoid accidental crashesbetween the tripper 92 and hopper 93 when moving independently of eachother.

It should be appreciated that embodiments of our system may need onlyone moveable reclaimer to reclaim material from any number of storagepiles. Of course, multiple reclaimers may be utilized to reduce thedowntime associated with reclaimer movement and increase flexibility forreclaiming operations.

The systems disclosed above can be configured to permit a quick changefrom stacking to reclaiming. For instance, only a quick horizontal movemay be needed to adjust from stacking material in one storage pile toreclaiming material for a second storage pile. Additionally, arelatively quick movement of the mobile tripper or mobile hopper may beneeded to adjust from stacking to reclaiming. Such adjustment may takeminutes to complete. In contrast, other systems typically require anentire bridge conveyor to be moved in a complex path to provide suchfunctionality, which often takes very long periods of time, such asmultiple days.

It should be appreciated that a general contractor or other entity mayprovide an embodiment of the system to a client. The method of providingsuch a system may include providing at least one overland reclaimingconveyor, providing at least one overland stacking conveyor, andproviding at least one stacking and reclaiming apparatus that includes aconnected mobile hopper and a mobile tripper. Embodiments of the methodmay also include providing one or more overland trippers, one or moreoverland hoppers or one or more reclaimers. Of course, designing a sitelayout or designating certain areas for storage piles may also beincluded in embodiments of the method.

It should be understood that a general contractor may be considered toprovide certain features even if a subcontractor installs or makes thosefeatures for a client of the general contractor. For instance, a generalcontractor can provide a client an overland conveyor, overland tripperor overland hopper even if a subcontractor offers to make or makes oneor more of these devices or installs the devices pursuant to anagreement with the general contractor. A general contractor may also beconsidered to provide a feature or device, such as an overland conveyoror other device, by offering to make or install such a device for aclient.

While certain present preferred embodiments of the method, device andsystem for stacking and reclaiming material have been shown anddescribed above, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention isnot limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied andpracticed within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatuscomprising: a moveable bridge comprised of a first end, a second end,and at least one intermediate portion between the first and second ends;a moveable hopper connected to the moveable bridge, the moveable hopperbeing moveable relative to the moveable bridge along at least a portionof the moveable bridge; and a moveable tripper connected to the moveablebridge, the moveable tripper being moveable relative to the moveablebridge along at least a portion of the moveable bridge; and wherein themoveable hopper is releasably attachable to the moveable tripper, themoveable hopper being moveable independent of the tripper whenunattached to the tripper and wherein the moveable hopper is moveablesynchronously with the tripper when the moveable hopper is attached tothe tripper, the moveable tripper transporting material during stackingoperations of the mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus and themoveable hopper receiving material during reclaiming operations of themobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus.
 2. A mobile stacking andreclaiming apparatus of claim comprising: a moveable bridge comprised ofa first end, a second end, and at least one intermediate portion betweenthe first and second ends; a moveable hopper connected to the moveablebridge, the moveable hopper being moveable relative to the moveablebridge along at least a portion of the moveable bridge; and a moveabletripper connected to the moveable bridge, the moveable tripper beingmoveable relative to the moveable bridge along at least a portion of themoveable bridge; and wherein the moveable bridge is also comprised of afirst conveyor that is moveable in at least one direction, at least oneof the first end, second end and at least one intermediate portionsupporting the first conveyor and wherein the moveable tripper iscomprised of an inclined conveyor and a cross conveyor, the inclinedconveyor positioned adjacent to the cross conveyor and configured tofeed material to the cross conveyor, the cross conveyor being transverseto the first conveyor and the inclined conveyor.
 3. The mobile stackingand reclaiming apparatus of claim 2 wherein the moveable hopper iscomprised of a plurality of interconnected sidewalls that define anopening sized and configured to receive material from a reclaimer, theopening of the moveable hopper sized and configured to permit materialto pass through the opening and onto the first conveyor.
 4. The mobilestacking and reclaiming apparatus of claim 3 wherein the moveable hopperis also configured to be releasably connected to a portion of thereclaimer.
 5. The mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus of claim 2wherein the moveable bridge is further comprised of a plurality of railsthat extend along at least a portion of the moveable bridge, the railssized and configured to define a path of travel for the moveable hopperand the moveable tripper.
 6. The mobile stacking and reclaimingapparatus of claim 2 wherein the moveable bridge is also comprised of afirst conveyor that is moveable in a first direction to convey thematerial toward the first end of the moveable bridge, and wherein themoveable hopper is moveably positionable between the moveable tripperand the first end such that material for reclaiming is receivable by themoveable hopper to convey that material along the first conveyor towardthe first end while other material is also moveable along the firstconveyor to the moveable tripper for stacking via the moveable tripper.7. A mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus comprising: a moveablebridge comprised of a first end, a second end, at least one intermediateportion between the first and second ends, a plurality of rails thatextend along at least a portion of the moveable bridge, the rails sizedand configured to define a path of travel for the moveable hopper andthe moveable tripper, and a first conveyor that is moveable in at leastone direction, at least one of the first end, second end and at leastone intermediate portion supporting the first conveyor; a moveablehopper connected to the moveable bridge, the moveable hopper beingmoveable relative to the moveable bridge along at least a portion of themoveable bridge; and a moveable tripper connected to the moveablebridge, the moveable tripper being moveable relative to the moveablebridge along at least a portion of the moveable bridge, the moveabletripper being comprised of an inclined conveyor and a cross conveyor,the inclined conveyor positioned adjacent to the cross conveyor andconfigured to feed material to the cross conveyor, the cross conveyorbeing transverse to the first conveyor and the inclined conveyor; andwherein at least one of the first end and the second end has a luffingend that is moveable from a retracted position to an extended position.8. The mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus of claim 7 wherein themoveable hopper is releasably attached to the moveable tripper.
 9. Themobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus of claim 7 wherein the crossconveyor is perpendicular to the first conveyor and the inclinedconveyor.
 10. The mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus of claim 7wherein at least one of the first end and the second end is extendablefrom a retracted position to an extended position.
 11. The mobilestacking and reclaiming apparatus of claim 7 wherein the moveable hopperis moveable relative to the moveable tripper.
 12. A system forreclaiming and stacking material, the system comprising: at least onestacking overland conveyor configured to convey material for stackingmaterial; at least one reclaiming overland conveyor configured to conveymaterial for reclaiming material; at least one mobile stacking andreclaiming apparatus, the at least one mobile stacking and reclaimingapparatus comprising a moveable bridge comprised of a first end, asecond end, and at least one intermediate portion between the first andsecond ends, a moveable hopper connected to the moveable bridge, themoveable hopper being moveable relative to the moveable bridge along atleast a portion of the moveable bridge, a moveable tripper connected tothe moveable bridge, the moveable tripper being moveable relative to themoveable bridge along at least a portion of the moveable bridge; and theat least one mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus positionedadjacent to the at least one stacking overland conveyor and at least onereclaiming overland conveyor to reclaim material from at least onestorage pile and stack material in at least one storage pile.
 13. Thesystem of claim 12 further comprising at least one reclaimer that ispositionable adjacent to the moveable hopper to reclaim material. 14.The system of claim 12 wherein the at least one mobile stacking andreclaiming apparatus is positioned between the at least one stackingoverland conveyor and the at least one reclaiming overland conveyor. 15.The system of claim 14 wherein the moveable bridge is also comprised ofa first conveyor that is moveable in a first direction and wherein themoveable tripper is comprised of an inclined conveyor and a crossconveyor, the inclined conveyor positioned adjacent to the crossconveyor and configured to feed material to the cross conveyor, thecross conveyor being transverse to the first conveyor and the inclinedconveyor, the cross conveyor configured to stack material.
 16. Thesystem of claim 12 wherein the first end of the at least one mobilestacking and reclaiming apparatus is positioned adjacent to the at leastone stacking overland conveyor and the at least one reclaiming overlandconveyor.
 17. The system of claim 16 wherein the moveable bridge is alsocomprised of a first conveyor that is moveable in a first direction andwherein the moveable tripper is comprised of an inclined conveyor and across conveyor, the inclined conveyor positioned adjacent to the crossconveyor and configured to feed material to the cross conveyor, thecross conveyor being transverse to the first conveyor and the inclinedconveyor, the cross conveyor configured to stack material.
 18. Thesystem of claim 17 wherein the first conveyor is also moveable in asecond direction that is opposite the first direction, the firstconveyor configured to move in the first direction to stack material andmove in the second material to reclaim material received from areclaimer.
 19. The system of claim 18 wherein the moveable hopper iscomprised of a plurality of interconnected sidewalls that define anopening sized and configured to receive material from the reclaimer, theopening of the moveable hopper sized and configured to permit materialto pass through the opening and onto the first conveyor.
 20. The systemof claim 12 wherein the moveable hopper is releasably connected to themoveable tripper such that the moveable hopper and moveable trippersynchronously move when interconnected and are configured toindependently move when separated and wherein the moveable trippertransports material during stacking operations of the mobile stackingand reclaiming apparatus and the moveable hopper receives materialduring reclaiming operations of the mobile stacking and reclaimingapparatus.
 21. The system of claim 12 wherein the moveable bridge isalso comprised of a first conveyor that is moveable in a first directionto convey the material toward the first end of the moveable bridge, andwherein the moveable hopper is moveably positionable between themoveable tripper and the first end such that material for reclaiming isreceivable by the moveable hopper to convey that material along thefirst conveyor toward the first end while other material is alsomoveable along the first conveyor for stacking via the moveable tripper.